DoubleScimitar: You're right to be worried about Gholdengo...
FallenKoala: Who knows? I have been subversive in the past...
Raymond sat alone, lethargically plucking berries one at a time from his tray and popping them in his mouth. He was leaning back in his chair, barely paying attention to his surroundings. His eyes were wandering, fixated on a small hairline crack in the ceiling, wandering across it from end to end.
Gholdengo released himself from his Dusk Ball. There could be no more delays, no more mistakes. He materialized on the table, reached out a hand, and tapped Raymond's knee.
Raymond looked down. "What is it, Gholdengo?"
Gholdengo began to disgorge the golden threads from his hand. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
"Do I look all right?" Raymond asked morosely. "Look, Gholdengo…Brambleghast's missing, and everyone thinks I'm just faking it. They aren't going to offer any help. At this point…screw the Gym Exam. Screw everything about it. I've already lost - there's no point in even trying to continue if I can't even take down the one Trainer who I don't have a type disadvantage against."
THERE'S STILL TIME, Gholdengo pointed out. YOU'RE ONLY FIVE POINTS BEHIND MARCUS AND ILIMA, AND ONLY FIFTEEN BEHIND JAYA. IF YOU CAN WIN YOUR LAST TWO, AND SHE LOSES HER LAST TWO, YOU CAN WIN THIS EASILY.
"Like I'm going to beat those two." Raymond snorted. "I'm sorry, Gholdengo, but I can't do this. This Gym Exam was ruined from the start. We're going back to Paldea, and we'll find another way to get stronger, I promise. Just…not this time."
Gholdengo frowned. Time to play my last card…let's hope this works. I RECEIVED A MESSAGE, he wrote. FROM THE SABOTEUR. JUST AFTER YOUR LOSS.
"Really?" Raymond asked. "Who sent it?"
I DON'T KNOW, IT WAS TELEPATHIC, Gholdengo responded. ALL IT SAID WAS 'WE EXPECT YOUR TRAINER TO ACHIEVE THE VICTORY WE'VE WORKED TO GIVE HIM. IF HE DOESN'T, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE BRAMBLEGHAST'S SAFETY'.
Raymond stared mutely at Gholdengo for a second, taking in the words. "So that's their game…" he murmured. "Whoever the saboteur is, they must've gotten scared when I did so badly in the second round." Raymond put his head in his hands. "Damn it…what about Jaya? Even if I do somehow eke out the next two rounds, if she wins either one, I still lose!"
I HAVE A FEELING, Gholdengo wrote, THAT IF THE SABOTEUR SENT THIS MESSAGE AFTER HER VICTORY, THEY WILL HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT.
"I suppose," said Raymond. He sighed. "I hate this, Gholdengo. I hate this more than you could imagine. But if it's for Brambleghast's safety, then I'll do it."
I WILL GO SEARCH FOR THE SABOTEUR AGAIN, Gholdengo wrote. I KNOW IT IS UNLIKELY, BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON BRINGING WHOEVER THIS IS TO JUSTICE.
"I know you won't, Gholdengo." Raymond shifted in his seat. "I know you won't."
Brambleghast sighed, once more glancing around her prison for any usable imperfections. Gholdengo did his work well - she could tell there were airholes by the fact that she was able to breathe normally, but they were so minute she couldn't see them, and she could only Shadow Sneak to a place that she could see.
Which meant, as much as she hated to admit it, she was firmly trapped.
The sound of footsteps disturbed her musing; the odd metallic nature of the footfalls told Brambleghast all she needed to know about the new arrival, and she sighed, any fleeting hope of a rescuer arriving gone completely.
"Brambleghast?"
Gholdengo's voice rang out. She ignored it.
"Brambleghast?" he called again. "I know you can hear me in there, Brambleghast. I just want to talk, okay?"
Brambleghast raised her voice. "What about?" she asked angrily. "What would I want to talk to you about?"
"Your freedom," said Gholdengo. "Listen, you're a part of Raymond's team. You can still help him."
"You mean help you," said Brambleghast. "Tell me, Gholdengo, what's going to happen to Jolt and I?"
"Well, of course you're going to be set free," said Gholdengo. "I'm not going to imprison you for any longer than is necessary. Once Raymond's won, you two will be free to go."
"And then what?" Brambleghast asked. "What's to stop the two of us from telling our Trainers exactly what happened?"
"You'd take Raymond's victory away from him?" Gholdengo asked.
"There will be no victory!" Brambleghast cried. "Even if he wins, it's not like he's gonna get to keep it, with or without us telling our Trainers the truth! You think, after all this sabotage that blatantly favors Raymond, they're just going to let him walk away with the win? And even if you somehow convince me to not tell Raymond, which you won't, there is no way Jolt's not going to spill everything to Jaya as soon as she's let out!"
Gholdengo remained silent.
"Gholdengo, listen to me," Brambleghast urged. "All this sabotage…it hasn't helped him. Raymond would have gotten that 50 in the first round with or without your interference, and he would have done a lot better in the second round without you throwing him into mental turmoil! Face it, Gholdengo, all your plan has done is hurt him. And none of this is going to make him stronger." Brambleghast sighed. "Please, just stop before more Pokemon get hurt."
Silence reigned over the room. For a few moments, Brambleghast thought she'd finally gotten through to the Steel/Ghost-type. That he'd finally seen reason.
And then Gholdengo began to laugh. It was a laugh that brought chills to Brambleghast's heart, a laugh that robbed her of the fleeting hope that had begun to build, for it was a laugh she'd never heard from him before. It was a mirthless, insane laugh, devoid of any sort of emotion. The laugh lasted for seconds on end, going on for so long Brambleghast thought momentarily he would laugh until his breath failed him, and then at last it trailed off.
"Fine," Gholdengo growled darkly. "I suppose I won't let you go after all."
"Gholdengo…" Brambleghast said warily
"If there's no other way to ensure your silence," said Gholdengo, "I'll have to make sure you stay silent. Forever."
Brambleghast's eyes widened. "You…you can't…"
"Whatever it takes, Brambleghast." Gholdengo's voice sounded alien to Brambleghast. "Golurk's wild Ghost-types will be excellent candidates to take the fall. Yes…a group of Wild Pokemon. No one will question it…and since they enacted the sabotage, they'll be perfect to pin all of that onto as well. They have the motivation, of course - they just wanted their favorite Trainer to win, and got desperate when he started losing and they thought the sabotage would be traced back to them. Oh, they will be perfect scapegoats."
"You're out of your mind, Gholdengo!" Brambleghast cried. "Listen to yourself! This isn't you, and you know it!"
"Whatever it takes!" Gholdengo practically screamed; as his scream faded, it was replaced by another chuckle, as if the statement had become a joke to him. "I've tried and I've tried. Everything's failed. But not this. Not this." Brambleghast's prison rocked wildly as Gholdengo abruptly struck it, causing Brambleghast to fall onto her side. "I'm done failing. I'm done watching everything I try backfire. I'm going to threaten, I'm going to hurt, I'm going to kill if I have to. I am going to do whatever it takes to ensure Raymond wins. And anyone who dares to get in my way…is going to join the two of you."
"Gholdengo, please…" Brambleghast pleaded.
Another emotionless chuckle was the only answer Gholdengo gave. At this point he clearly began to move towards the door out, for his footsteps sounded once more, the sound of them growing fainter and fainter. "Now, of course, Ilima has to lose, so I'll kidnap one of his now…his Komala should be perfect. And I have to get Jaya to throw her next two rounds - since she doesn't know I'm going to kill her Emolga anyway, threatening that thing seems like a good start. Yes, yes, everything is falling into place. Victory is mine…victory…"
His voice trailed off as his footsteps retreated, then was cut off entirely as he slammed the door behind him. Brambleghast slumped in her prison, unable to even muster the strength to rise and continue to look for imperfections.
How did it get this way? What in Distortion happened to him?
"Brambleghast?" A small voice came from Brambleghast's left. "Are you okay?"
"Jolt?" Brambleghast asked. So I am in the same room as she is…
"Yeah," said the Emolga. "Look, I'm…sorry. I've never seen someone's teammate talk to them like that."
"He's not my teammate," Brambleghast growled venomously. "Not after this. Whatever's happened to him…it's clear the Gholdengo I once knew is gone."
"Do you know what happened to him?" Jolt asked.
"No." Brambleghast felt tears beginning to well at her eyes. "No, I don't."
Unseen by any of the contestants, Gym Trainers, or their Pokemon, two more events took place before the beginning of the second series of matches within the Gym Exam's third round.
The first of these was that Ilima's Komala was beckoned away from his Trainer by Gholdengo, utilizing the same network of promises that had lured in Jolt. Unlike Jolt, Komala could be affected by Thunder Wave - no clash was heard, and Komala did not return to lunch.
The second was that, about ten minutes after Komala's disappearance, Jaya stopped by her room to take a brief post-lunch rest. A minute later, she exited the room ashen-faced, and spent the rest of the time before the round pacing worriedly, unwilling to reenter.
For she had seen a message, carved into her wall with what looked to be some kind of blade. The message read simply, IF YOU WIN, SHE DIES. It was placed directly over Jolt's empty Wing Ball, which Jaya had kept on her bedside table in the hopes that Jolt would find her way back to it.
"Looks like we're battling Jaya this afternoon," said Marcus. "This'll be tough - no offense, Pangoro, but the fact that one of my two Ability-users has a type disadvantage against Flying means this'll be an uphill battle from the start."
Pangoro nodded sullenly, not liking Marcus's words but understanding the truth behind them.
"Still, we're not just going to roll over and surrender," said Marcus. "We're going to go out there, and we're going to win. Any of you got a problem with that?"
Four heads shook fervently.
"Then let's get ready," said Marcus. "Now, she has Crobat, Skarmory, Unfezant, and Talonflame. Houndoom, you'll match up best against Talonflame, and Liepard, I'll want your speed to take on Crobat. As for you, Pangoro…
"…let's have a good battle, everyone!" Katherine, the Laverre City Gym Trainer in charge of officiating this battle, called, raising her hand.
Liepard looked into the eyes of her opponent, the Crobat that Jaya called Fang. She remembered a Fang - had that not been the name of the Drapion who had attempted to assault Drapion and Tyranitar near Cyllage?
I suppose names are not unique to a single human or Pokemon.
Fang's four wings fluttered as the Crobat bobbed up and down in the air, looking down at Liepard. Poison dripped from his mouth. Liepard tensed. Marcus had been told to release first for this fight; thus, Liepard had no doubt Jaya fully expected Fang to be able to handle her.
Still, it wasn't like she wasn't going to give it her all. Liepard crouched, counting down in her head. 3…2…1…
"Begin!" Katherine cried, and both Pokemon lunged at one another almost as fast as their Trainers could call out commands.
"Leech Life!"
"Fake Out!"
Liepard's hiss of "Tranche Rapide!" was accompanied by a swift leap into the air. Fang's snarl of "Sapping Fangs!" died on his lips as the swift strike staggered him, nearly knocking him out of the air. He managed to recover temporarily, his four wings beating rapidly, but then Liepard spun. "Poursuite!" The four seeking rays slammed into Fang's body one after the other, and the Crobat fell, slamming hard into the ground with a grunt of pain.
"Supersonic!" Jaya ordered.
"Taunt!" Marcus countered.
But Liepard couldn't get the move off before Fang opened his mouth and emitted a loud, piercing scream. Liepard staggered, her ears badly assailed, her head ringing from the Confusion-inducing attack.
"Leech Life!"
"Sapping Fangs!" Liepard raised a paw, attempting to defend, but her vision was blurry and she could see three Crobats coming at her. She aimed for one with a snarl of "Tranche Ventouse!", missed, and felt vicious jaws sink into her shoulder, the super-effective attack pumping life from Liepard's body and eliminating the pain that wracked Fang.
"Focus, Liepard!" Marcus cried; his voice sounded very far away. "Fury Swipes!"
Right…if I see three Crobats, I can just aim at all of them.
"Tranche Furieuse!" Liepard snarled, unleashing a barrage of paw-swipes against the blurred, flickering Crobats. Abruptly Fang hissed and recoiled as one of her paws grazed his face; Liepard focused on that one, feeling clarity return to her mind, her eyes. She glared at Fang, who had a fresh scratch across his nose. The Crobat rose back into the air, wings beating as he gathered for another clash.
"Air Slash!" Jaya ordered.
"Copycat!" Marcus cried.
"Aerial Wings!" "Imitateur!" Four identical blades of Flying energy, two from each Pokemon, flew forth and broke against one another.
Fang was already lunging down at Liepard again. "Toxic Fangs!" His teeth dripped with Poison energy as he descended at a rapid pace.
"Meet him!" Marcus cried.
Liepard braced herself, readying a paw to fling into Fang's face. The Crobat descended closer, closer-
"Tranche Vicieuse!"
At the exact same time, Jaya called out, "Fly! Over!"
"Wing Burst!" A burst of Flying energy erupted out of Fang's chest and the Crobat was launched upwards, soaring over Liepard's head. "Behind!" Marcus cried. Liepard spun as fast as she could, but Fang was just a heartbeat faster; though her paw swung around and drove into the side of the Crobat's head, his fangs had already sunk into Liepard's right shoulder.
Liepard gasped in pain, feeling a sickly sensation from the wound; gritting her teeth, she lashed out at Fang. "Tranche Furiuse!" The flurry of claw-swipes drove Fang away, forcing him to release his hold in order to evade Liepard's attacks. But the Toxic Fangs had left their mark; Liepard's wound was an ugly purple, and she could feel poison rushing through her bloodstream, sapping her strength.
"Get clear," Jaya ordered. "Ranged attacks until it goes down."
"Pursuit!" Marcus called.
Liepard launched the attack, but Fang retaliated with a swift Aerial Wings, the blades of Flying energy sufficient to rip through the seeking rays. "Toxic Reaction!" the Crobat snarled, unleashing a blast of Poison energy in retaliation.
"That's Venoshock!" Marcus cried. "Don't let it touch you!"
That I can do. Liepard twisted and leaped out of the way, allowing the blast of Poison energy to splatter against the floor behind her. Actually hitting this thing is an entirely different pond.
Maybe it's time I asked Marcus to recall me. Houndoom's ranged attacks can handle this thing a lot more easily, and-
No.
Liepard bared her teeth. I have to prove I can actually win battles at this level. I had to run away from Furfrou - I will not run away from this Crobat!
Liepard spun, beginning to draw off the Normal energy required for a Substitute. Of course, that doesn't mean I can't use Houndoom's power for my own.
"Aider: Houndoom!" Liepard hissed. The blast of Dark energy that emanated from her body was a clear Dark Pulse. Fang snarled furiously. "Wing Burst!" Another blast of Flying energy propelled him downwards, evading the expanding circle of Dark energy as it skimmed over him.
"Aider: Houndoom!" The next attack was a Shadow Ball. "Counter with your own!" Jaya cried; with a growl of "Shadow Burst!", Fang did as he was told, and the two Shadow Balls dissipated against one another.
"Aider: Houndoom!" Unfortunately, this time Liepard's luck ran out as she ended up with Bite, useless against her aerial foe. She could really feel the poison now; it was eating at her stance, causing her legs to shake from the strain of holding her up.
"Luck isn't going to beat me, Marcus," Jaya challenged.
Marcus glanced at Liepard, fingering her Luxury Ball. Liepard glanced back at him and shook her head.
"All right," said Marcus. "I have a plan, but it's going to take some effort. Keep using Assist - wait for my order."
Liepard glared back at Fang. "Aider: Houndoom!"
This time she was lucky enough to get Flamethrower; a roaring blaze of Fire energy shot from her mouth at the Crobat. "Evade with Fly," said Jaya.
"Wing Burst!"
"Copycat, now!" Marcus cried.
"Imitateur!" Liepard hissed, smirking as she did so. A line of energy shot from Fang to Liepard, and Liepard felt Flying energy erupt under her. In the next moment she was soaring through the air, propelled by the copied Fly, arcing straight towards her opponent.
Fang and Jaya's eyes widened in perfect synchronization. "Cross Poison!" Jaya cried.
"Tranche Sournoise!" Liepard raised a paw, Dark energy playing around it.
"Toxic Wings!" Fang lunged to meet her, Poison energy rippling across his body.
Liepard flung her paw forwards as Fang closed in, and the two disappeared in a purple-black explosion.
Drapion gazed out of his Luxury Ball as the light of the explosion began to fade. Is Liepard all right? In her state, could she have survived that big of an explosion? And how damaged is Jaya's Crobat?
All three questions were answered at once as his eyes caught sight of two figures tumbling downwards, spiraling through the air. Drapion's claws clenched in tension. Come on, Liepard…beat this stupid Crobat!
Liepard's eyes shot open. Wind was whipping through her fur, driving into her face. She could feel Fang's body in her grasp; it took her a moment to realize that they were both falling through the air, locked together, and Fang's jaws were open and grasping for her fur.
"Sapping Fangs!"
"Tranche Ventouse!"
Liepard shot out a Dark energy-infused paw and punched Fang in the throat; the Bug-type attack dissipated from the Crobat's fangs as his head snapped back.
"Tranche Furieuse!" Liepard snarled, unleashing a rapid barrage of blows upon the Crobat even as they fell. Strike after strike after strike landed; Fang reeled under the flurry, unable to concentrate and effectively form a defense.
Words from a Trainer were normally enough for a Pokemon to regain their concentration. But Jaya was noticeably silent. Does she just think Fang's poison will be enough to finish me?
True, it was still eating away at her. But she could last a little longer.
The floor was coming up fast. Liepard abandoned her Fury Swipes, instead grasping onto Fang's body with her front paws. Quickly, she planted her hind legs on the Crobat's body as well. The floor was three feet away…two feet…one…
Liepard pushed, letting go of Fang and flinging herself off. "Poursuite!" she cried as she leaped, flinging a few seeking rays after Fang's plummeting body. Fang hit the ground hard with a cry of pain; the rays slammed into him a second later, the grunts of pain sounding even as Liepard landed upon the ground.
She stood where she was, breathing heavily, forcing herself through the poison and summoning more strength. A rustling behind her brought her head around in time to see Fang rising, a venomous glare in the Crobat's eyes.
"Leech Life!" Jaya called.
"Night Slash!" Marcus ordered.
Liepard and Fang lunged for one another. "Sapping Fangs!" "Tranche Vicieuse!"
Liepard knew that she could not allow the Crobat to gain strength from her. She closed, readying her paw to strike, but at the same time allowing Dark energy to form across her other paw. A Sucker Punch should stun him enough for me to break away…
Wait a minute.
Liepard's eyes strayed to Jaya as her mouth began to open. Another order.
She's going to have him use Fly again. Liepard smirked. The same trick isn't going to work twice.
"Over, now!"
"Wing Burst!" Fang snarled.
"Tranche Ventouse!" Liepard retorted, twisting on her hind legs and striking upwards. Her paw slammed into Fang's stomach as he soared over her; Marcus's cry of "Sucker Punch, behind!" barely reached Liepard's ears. He'd had the same realization as she had, just a tiny bit slower.
Fang couldn't recover in time; his body slammed into the arena floor with a crack that drew groans of sympathy from the stands. Liepard summoned up what little strength hadn't been drained by poison and leaped straight for the fallen Crobat. "Tranche Vicieuse!"
The Night Slash struck true, propelled by the force of her leap as much as it was by the strength in her arm. Fang's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped, finally unconscious, as Liepard landed on the ground. She staggered, but just barely managed to keep her footing; with a grin, she turned to face Jaya, standing victoriously over Fang's fallen body.
Jaya returned Fang with a sad smile. As soon as he was in his Wing Ball, Liepard glanced back at Marcus, legs shivering. Marcus understood. "Well done, Liepard," he said. "Very well done. You did wonderfully."
With that, he recalled her into her Luxury Ball; satisfied, Liepard finally allowed her body to relax and her mind to drift into unconsciousness.
"Flare, it's time."
Houndoom gaped as Jaya's Talonflame was revealed, standing majestically with her body awash with flame. Isn't that her Ace? What's she doing sending it out second?
Marcus seemed to have the same question, his expression surprised. Jaya smirked. "The rules said we had to use our Gym Leader teams and power levels for this battle," she said. "Nobody said anything about the order we could send them out in."
"Fair enough," said Marcus. "Regardless…Houndoom! You're up!"
Houndoom emerged onto the field, already knowing this would be difficult. He knew Flare was one of Jaya's two Ability-users, and with him having no Ability he was already at a disadvantage. He snarled irritably. I spent so long without an Ability…now that I've got it, it's so hard to fight without it.
He knew it would get easier. But that was of little comfort to him right now.
"Begin!" Katherine cried, slashing her hand down.
"Brave Bird!" Jaya ordered.
"Full-Power Wing Strike!" Wings spread, Flare lunged at Houndoom, her body streaking through the sky at an insane speed.
"Flamethrower!" Marcus cried. "Blunt the charge, then hit her with a Dark Pulse!"
"Flame Tongue!" Houndoom growled, readying a follow-up Dark Surge. He knew Flamethrower wouldn't hurt the Fire/Flying-type all that much, but at least it would hopefully stop her charge.
It didn't.
"Flame Body: Flame Absorption!" Flare cried gleefully; her entire body dissolved into Fire energy as she slammed straight into the Flame Tongue and continued going as if it hadn't even been there. Houndoom's eyes widened. She's immune to Fire energy, just like me?
"Dark Surge!" he snarled hastily, hoping it would be enough to blunt the Talonflame's charge on its own.
"Flame Body: Diving Flame Charge!" Flare's Fire energy-created body abruptly shifted, transforming from a vaguely Talonflame-shaped form into a raging formless trail of Fire energy. The trail curved, arcing over Houndoom's Dark Surge, and as it came at Houndoom it coalesced back into Flare's body, still awash with Flying energy.
"Thunder Fang!" Marcus ordered.
"Thunder Jaws!" Houndoom snarled, lunging at the oncoming Talonflame, his teeth crackling with Electric energy.
"Dissolve!" Jaya cried.
"Flame Body!" Flare transformed into Fire energy once again, and Houndoom's jaws clamped down on nothing but flames that swiftly washed out the gaps between his teeth. Flare reformed beside him, the last of her wing reconstituting itself as it slipped out of Houndoom's mouth; Houndoom could see a bit of Electric energy surging across her wingtip, but nowhere near enough to deliver actual energy.
"Too slow," the Talonflame murmured. "Swift Wing Strike."
Flare twisted and drove a Flying energy-infused wing into Houndoom's side, sending him stumbling away. "Dark Surge!" he snarled, but yet again Flare evaded via transforming into Fire energy, soaring into the air in a tower of flames.
Houndoom quickly perused his options. He could think of multiple ways to beat this Talonflame: spread moves were not easily avoided, Water-type moves such as the fairly common Surf would wreak havoc on Flare, and being a Talonflame, Flare would be extremely susceptible to Rock-type moves.
Houndoom had none of any of those in his arsenal - Dark Pulse was the closest thing he had to a spread move, aside from Inferno which would be ineffective against Flare's Fire energy-formed body. Damn it…if I just had my Ability this would be a cakewalk.
"Brave Bird again, from above!" Jaya called.
"Full-Power Wing Strike!" Flare dove, body wreathed once more in Flying energy.
"Solar Beam!" Marcus ordered.
Solar Beam? Houndoom obeyed even though the order surprised him. Flare was a Fire/Flying-type; the Grass-type Solar Beam would do next to nothing to the Talonflame. Nevertheless, with a snarl of "Solar Surge!", he began to charge the beam up, counting down from five as the beam formed in his jaws.
Flare soared closer, but as the beam finished charging Jaya called an order. "Dodge!"
"Flame Body!" Flare cried, dissolving into Fire energy once again. "Sweep it after her!" Marcus cried even as the Solar Beam flew from Houndoom's jaws. Quickly, Houndoom swiveled his head, sending the Solar Beam carving through the air after the fleeing Talonflame.
Flare could move quickly in her Fire energy form. But not quickly enough. Houndoom's Solar Beam caught up to her, and only then did Houndoom realize why Marcus had called for the ineffective attack.
For while a body was one solid object, and thus could not easily be ripped apart, a cloud of energy was a different thing altogether.
The Fire energy that constituted Flare was blown away by the sheer force of the Solar Beam, leaving several angry clouds of Fire energy swirling through the air - though the attack had done little damage, the effect on Flare's body had been extremely worth it. "Dark Pulse, and keep firing!" Marcus cried.
"Dark Surge!" Houndoom swiftly began unleashing wave after wave of Dark energy into the air, each one aimed at a specific cloud, though a few of them streaked towards groups of two or even three.
"Flare, quickly, Flamethrower!" Jaya called. "Deflect those pulses and get back together!"
"Flame Body: Spearing Flame Burst!" The main body of what could be called Flare retaliated with jets of Fire energy. Houndoom had no doubt that at full strength, Flare's Flamethrowers would be able to counter his Dark Pulses. But Flare was not at full strength, her body scattered as it was.
The first Flamethrower blunted the first Dark Pulse, but more came on, and Flare could not fire Flamethrowers fast enough. Houndoom could see the Talonflame exerting her will on the rest of her scattered body, trying to pull it back together - splitting her concentration was badly affecting her ability to answer Houndoom's barrage. The second Dark Pulse was blunted, and the third, but Flare simply could not answer the fourth one fast enough.
The Fire energy-formed half-Talonflame was blown backwards by the blast of Dark energy, straight into the rest of her body. Quickly, she drew it to herself as the fifth and sixth Dark Pulses came at her. "Flame Body: Towering Flame Corona!" the Talonflame cried; a massive eruption of Fire energy flew from her reconstituting body and slammed into the two Dark Pulses, shattering them both before it.
"Solar Beam again!" Marcus called.
"Dive straight at it, Flare!" Jaya called. "Flare Blitz!"
Houndoom bared his teeth as the beam began to charge once again. "Solar Surge!"
"Flame Body: Meteor Flame!" Flare's body blazed with Fire energy, nearly shrouding the actual Pokemon from view as she hurled herself towards Houndoom.
The Grass-type beam flew from Houndoom's maw, and Flare slammed into it and kept going, the Fire energy around her body ripping the Grass energy apart before it even touched the Talonflame's body.
"Foul Play!" Marcus cried.
Houndoom gathered his haunches as the last of his Solar Surge was ripped away by Flare's Meteor Flame. "Dark Pummel!" he snarled as he leaped.
One powerful paw flew forwards as Flare closed, embedding itself in the Talonflame's cheek. Flare narrowed her eyes. "Swift Wing Strike!" Twisting around Houndoom's blow, Flare slammed her wing into him again; the remaining strikes of his Dark Pummel either flew wide or were left unused as Houndoom went flying straight into the floor of the arena.
"Full-Power Wing Strike!" Flare dove once more, streaking straight for the fallen Houndoom.
"Dark Pulse!" Marcus ordered.
Houndoom grimaced as he fired yet another Dark Surge from his body. Both Flare and I use Fire energy as our main method of attack, but those attacks are ineffective, thanks to her Flame Body and my natural resistance. It's like we're both fighting with one appendage tied behind our backs…and as such, the battle's become nothing more than using the same attack over and over again. Anything other than Dark Surge is practically useless against her, but she can only really charge me with her Wing Strikes and avoid my attacks with Flame Body.
There has to be another way to hit her. Houndoom tensed, racking his brain for moves that could work. Sludge Bomb and Shadow Ball will be avoided easily…she'll be prepared for another Solar Beam…Fire-type moves just straight up won't work…
Wait.
Houndoom's mind flew back to a few days ago, when he'd been pondering old moves. The thought flitted into his head the same way it had that day. Odor Sleuth? Smog? Arceus, how long has it been since I've thought of those moves?
I've got it. I know how to beat this thing.
Flare had dodged the Dark Pulse and was now streaking towards Houndoom, triumph in her cry. Houndoom grinned. "Poison Spit," he whispered, and as Flare soared closer a cloud of Poison energy flew from Houndoom's jaws.
Smog was an incredibly basic technique, one that many low-level Poison-types were capable of. In essence, it was a simple mist of Poison energy that would poison anyone who breathed it in. Easily counterable, easily avoidable, worthless against Poison or Steel-types.
And yet none of those problems mattered when Flare was soaring right towards Houndoom's face, going too fast to dodge.
Houndoom felt Flare slam into his face, felt his paws leave the ground, felt his body fly through the air, but the choking as Flare breathed in the Smog made it all worth it. He twisted in midair and managed to land on his feet; panting, he stared at his adversary as the Talonflame writhed, hacking and coughing, trying to get the poison out of her system.
"Dark Surge!" Houndoom snarled. Flare, distracted by the poison, couldn't dissolve in time; the blast of Dark energy sent Flare flailing backwards across the arena. Her claws dug into the ground as she skidded to a halt, but even so, Houndoom could tell Flare was failing. She still had gas left in the tank, but the Smog had done its work; she was Poisoned, and that gas would go fast.
Clearly Jaya knew it too, for she called out an order as soon as she saw Flare was still up. "Tailwind, then Brave Bird! Finish it!"
"Full Speed!" Flare crouched, Flying energy rippling around her. "Full-Speed Full-Power Wing Strike!" In the next second, the Talonflame shot forwards, speeding across the arena so fast she was almost a blur.
"Dark Pummel!" Houndoom raised himself up on his hind legs and met Flare's charge with a flurry of Dark energy-enhanced blows.
The Talonflame flung herself straight into the storm of blows and kept going, unheeding of the damage they were doing. Houndoom's eyes barely had time to widen before Flare's beak rammed into his stomach. All of the breath flew from his body as the wind was knocked out of him; he crumpled to the floor, the remnants of his Dark Pummel fading from his paws, gasping and choking for air.
"Swift Wing Strike."
The last thing Houndoom saw was Flare's wing arcing towards his face.
Pangoro clenched his fists as he saw Jaya recall her Poisoned, exhausted Talonflame. That made two double-knockouts - if Marcus and Jaya were that evenly-matched, whoever he was going to have to fight would be a real challenge.
It helped that the one Houndoom had beaten had been Jaya's strongest Pokemon. Now Marcus had two Ability-users while Jaya only had one remaining. But type advantage was still something to worry about, and Pangoro knew Jaya would take full advantage of that.
Nevertheless, he wasn't surprised when Marcus released him onto the field. Of course he would want to save Drapion for last. He was a little surprised when Jaya sent out the Pokemon he'd be facing; her Steel/Flying-type Skarmory.
Well, that'll be easier than I thought. From what I know, Skarmory is a physical attacker, and he's neutral to my Fighting-type attacks. This seems like a weird matchup…then again, I do know her last Pokemon is Unfezant. Normal/Flying…she's out of Pokemon whose typings completely resist my hits.
Pangoro grinned savagely as he and Skarmory took their places. It seemed an eternity before Katherine finally yelled, "Begin!"
"Gem, Iron Defense!" Jaya cried. "Fly up, and keep him away with Air Slash!"
Pangoro grimaced as Gem obeyed Jaya's commands. "Iron Defense." His body began to surround itself in a silver sheen as he rose out of Pangoro's reach. Why in Distortion did Marcus refuse to let me have ranged attacks?
"Iron Slash." Gem unleashed a swift aerial blade of Flying energy at Pangoro.
"Iron Fist: Bullet Blow!" Pangoro raised a Steel energy-enhanced fist and punched the Iron Slash out of the sky, allowing the energy to dissipate around his knuckles.
"Body Press!" Jaya cried.
"Iron Slam." Gem folded his wings and dropped like a stone, Fighting energy radiating across his body as he plunged towards Pangoro.
Pangoro braced himself. "Iron Fist: Crushing Blow!" He launched another fist upwards, this one ablaze with Fighting energy.
But even his fist of iron seared with pain as the full force of Gem's body came down upon it.
Right…Body Press uses Defense boosts to strengthen its power. In conjunction with Iron Defense, its strength is hard to match.
The fist managed to deflect Gem's drop; the Skarmory practically bounced off Pangoro's upraised fist, wings flailing. But his beady eyes locked onto Pangoro even as he flew away, and he smirked. Another aura of power was beginning to form around Gem, overlapping with the aura of Iron Defense.
"That's Autotomize!" Marcus cried. "Watch out!"
"Iron Slam!"
This time, Gem came a lot faster, his metal body carving through the air as he threw himself head-first at Pangoro. Pangoro winced, knowing this was going to hurt. "Iron Fist: Devastating Blow!"
Indeed it did hurt; Pangoro staggered as agony ripped through his wrist, forcing him down onto one knee from the sheer amount of pain. Gem's charge was blunted yet again, but Pangoro knew he could only keep this up for so long.
I need another plan.
"Switch to offense!" Marcus cried. "Hammer Arm!"
Pangoro's eyes fixed upon Gem, who was only now collecting himself from his latest reverse. "Iron Fist: Devastating Blow!" he snarled, lunging forwards, anxious to land a clean hit on the defense-boosted Skarmory.
"Iron Defense."
Pangoro's punch struck true, and in the next second Pangoro wished it hadn't. He staggered back, clutching his wrist in pain.
"Roost."
All of the damage Pangoro had done over the course of the fight faded from Gem's body as he used Flying energy to heal. Gem grinned. "With the Houndoom gone, all I have to worry about is physical attackers," he said. "And my physical defense is unbreakable. Save yourself the trouble. Just surrender."
"Not likely," Pangoro snarled.
"Your loss." Gem rose up into the air, surrounding himself with Fighting energy. "Iron Slam!"
Pangoro knew answering this with Iron Fist would likely cost him an arm. But he also knew that there was no way he could outrun the Autotomize-boosted Skarmory. Damn…he thought, raising an arm. This is going to hurt.
"Iron Fist: Devastating Blow!"
It did hurt. It hurt so much Pangoro thought his wrist would snap from the stress. But as his blow landed, Marcus called an order. "Grab it!"
Before Gem could react, Pangoro obeyed, grasping the Skarmory around the midsection. Gem struggled, but though his defense allowed him to take blows all day, it did not boost his strength, and Pangoro held him fast, raising him up into the air.
"Gem!" Jaya cried.
"Squeeze!" Marcus ordered.
Pangoro smirked as he began to squeeze Gem's body. No defense can protect against this! Gem screamed, his body beginning to contract. Pangoro squeezed harder, listening to the screech of twisted metal as Gem's body shriveled in his grasp.
But out of the corner of his eye, Pangoro saw Gem's left wing rise, gathering Flying energy around itself. A point-blank Air Slash…I can't defend in time. Stupidly, he'd left his right arm at his side, unready to defend or attack.
Gem smirked, his eyes shining even though his armor was continuing to compact. "Iron-"
And then a Wing Ball flashed and Gem disappeared, recalled out of Pangoro's grasp by Jaya.
What was that? Pangoro raised himself, glaring at Jaya as she placed Gem's Wing Ball back on her belt. That Skarmory still had plenty of fight left in him! What a cheap little-
"I'm going to recall you, Pangoro," said Marcus.
Pangoro whipped around, glaring at Marcus. That wasn't a satisfying fight! I want a better fight!
"I need you as backup," said Marcus. "Drapion should be able to handle himself, but if he isn't, then I'll need you to take over from me. Okay?"
"Okay," Pangoro snarled as Marcus recalled him.
What a joke! All that buildup, for her to return Gem just when it was really getting good!
On one side, it was Drapion. On the other stood Ribbon, Jaya's Unfezant. Drapion readied himself for combat, hoping to Arceus it wasn't going after the ship.
Not now. Now we battle.
"Begin!"
Scarcely had Katherine dropped her hand when Ribbon surged forwards. "Big Pecks: Beak Blade!" Before Drapion's eyes, the Unfezant's beak elongated, stretching out from his face until it was at least two feet long.
"Battle Armor!" Drapion snarled, raising a chitin-encased claw. The Beak Blade clashed against his armor, sparks flying as it slid off the chitin. Drapion grinned. So my Battle Armor can resist his blade…that makes this much easier.
"Slam!"
"Detect, then Air Slash!" Jaya cried.
Fighting energy rippled across Ribbon's form as he swayed out of the way of Drapion's attack. Free momentarily, the Unfezant leaped upwards, wings spread wide. "Beak Blade Blast!" He slashed his beak to the right, leaving a trail of Flying energy behind, and it was that trail that he sent flying down at Drapion.
"Barrier!" Drapion snarled, generating a Protect to deflect the ranged attack. As the energy dissipated against the barrier he saw Ribbon dropping down upon him. "Big Pecks: Beak Blade!"
"Battle Armor: Tail!" Drapion growled, twisting and swinging his tail upwards. Again Ribbon's Beak Blade clashed against Drapion's Battle Armor, and again Ribbon's blow was deflected.
The Unfezant twisted, swinging his Beak Blade again at Drapion's side; again Battle Armor frustrated him. Ribbon leaped backwards, pushing off the Battle Armor, and charged in again. A cleaving strike to the face, a swift blow to the right arm, a twisting slash to the back, all were deflected in the same way. Drapion tried to retaliate with a Battle Armor-enhanced Slam, but again Ribbon used Detect, easily lunging backwards to avoid the strike before coming in for another stab.
"Barrier!" Drapion deflected the stab with a Protect. "No Escape!" As Ribbon stumbled backwards, a barrage of seeking Dark-type rays arced from Drapion's jaws at the Unfezant's body.
"Big Pecks: Beak Barrier!" Ribbon's elongated beak retracted, and then expanded in width instead of length, forming a large shield in front of him. The Dark-type rays bounced off uselessly, and in the next moment Ribbon was charging, his beak like a club instead of a sword.
"Battle Armor: Tail!" Drapion swung his tail into the oncoming beak. He was unprepared for the sheer strength behind the attack, used to answering a sharp weapon rather than a blunt one, and as a result he stumbled. Ribbon took full advantage of the opening. "Big Pecks: Beak Blade!" The shield elongated back into a sword, and before Drapion could form his Battle Armor the Beak Blade jabbed through his chitinous skin, eliciting a sharp stab of pain.
Drapion twisted. "Battle Armor: Slam!" Again, though, Detect made Ribbon fast enough to dodge, but as he leaped backwards Drapion unleashed a Pierce at the recoiling Unfezant.
"Big Pecks: Beak Barrier!" This met with no more success than the No Escape had, the Bug energy-infused spines clattering off Ribbon's shield-like beak. RIbbon charged again; Drapion gritted his teeth. "Battle Armor!" he snarled, forming it across his skull as he lowered his head and lunged forwards.
His head slammed into Ribbon's Beak Barrier with a clang that staggered both of them; Drapion stumbled backwards, but as Ribbon fell away Jaya called out. "Forwards!"
Ribbon suddenly was lunging straight at Drapion's face. "Big Pecks: Beak Bash Barrage!"
The Unfezant's beak changed shape again, this time into a vaguely cylindrical shape with a blunt end. Then it shot forwards, ramming into Drapion's face, shattering chitin and drawing blood.
"Battle Armor!" Drapion snarled, mustering more chitin to protect his face as Ribbon's beak retreated and shot forwards again and again, each hit sending Drapion staggering backwards. The Battle Armor was enough to blunt the worst of it, but even so Drapion could feel pain ripple across his face at each impact, the crack-crack-crack of the Unfezant's blunted beak forming an agonizing rhythm.
But Drapion was not out of it yet. Far from it. As Ribbon's beak recoiled and jabbed forwards once more, he snarled, "Blast!" Ribbon was completely unprepared for the sudden retaliation; a shriek erupted from the Unfezant's throat as the X-shaped blast of Poison energy slammed into his stomach and knocked him backwards.
Drapion followed up swiftly, lunging forwards at the staggering Unfezant, bringing both arms behind him. "Battle Armor: Double Slam!" he roared, swinging his twin clublike fists at Ribbon.
"Ribbon!" Jaya cried as the blow struck true, sending Ribbon flying straight into the wall of the arena. The wall cratered under the force of the Unfezant's involuntary flight, dust rising from the site of the impact. Drapion grinned despite the pain - he was willing to bet that had done more damage than Ribbon's entire barrage.
But any hope that it had finished Ribbon off faded as the Unfezant arose from the cloud of dust, anger resplendent on his face. "Beak Blade Blasts!" This time, Ribbon slashed his beak through the air three times, each time leaving a Flying energy-formed trail behind. The three Air Slashes flew at Drapion, who swiftly raised a Barrier to deflect the barrage. What did he think that was going to do?
"Battle Armor, now!" Marcus cried.
The Barrier fell, and Ribbon lunged through where it had been, his beak elongated. Strangely, this time it was glowing black with Dark energy. "Big Pecks: Black Beak Blade!" Ribbon shrieked, swinging it down at Drapion's right cheek.
"Battle Armor!" Drapion snarled, but as the Black Beak Blade hit Drapion could tell it was stronger than the ordinary Beak Blade. Of course…Beak Blade is just an extension of his Ability. But now that he's powered it up with a move…most likely Night Slash, if I had to guess…even if it's resisted it's still going to be stronger than the base attack.
The Black Beak Blade ripped through the chitin and scored a shallow cut on Drapion's skin. Drapion hissed furiously. Damn it…there goes my main advantage. I'll have to end this quick. Ribbon's eyes gleamed as he hauled back, ready to swing again.
"Rend!" As such, he was unprepared for Drapion to simply charge him, jaws gaping. The Detect that flared up around Ribbon's body was more instinctive than anything, and Drapion grinned as he saw the Unfezant use up his main defensive technique. Perfect, he thought as his jaws clamped down on empty air.
"Rip!" Drapion snarled, spinning in the hopes of trapping Ribbon in his claws.
"Big Pecks: Beak Barrier!"
Damn it…I forgot! Drapion's unprotected claws smarted as his blow bounced off the Beak Barrier. Again Ribbon was quick to take advantage of the opportunity. "Big Pecks: Beak Bash!" Drapion staggered under the swift hit, spitting blood from his injured mouth.
"Night Slash, from above!" Jaya cried suddenly.
Drapion's vision refocused in time to see Ribbon rising into the air, beak elongating. What? Why would Jaya call for that? I was staggered…he could have easily gotten a free hit, if not multiple.
"Big Pecks: Black Beak Blade!" Ribbon dropped, his Black Beak Blade carving downwards through the air as he swept it towards Drapion's back.
"Barrier!"
The blade slammed into Drapion's swift Protect, and as Ribbon recoiled Marcus called an order. "Tail! Grab the beak!"
Drapion grinned as he lashed out with his tail. An order to Detect from Jaya might have saved him, but again Jaya was silent, and Ribbon's momentarily stunned state meant he couldn't react until it was too late.
Drapion's tail-claws clamped around Ribbon's elongated beak, and Drapion twisted, swinging his tail sideways with a grunt of effort. Ribbon shrieked uselessly as Drapion swung him out of the air and into the arena floor.
Drapion released the fallen Unfezant and raised his tail high. "Battle Armor: Slam!" Jaya seemed paralyzed into indecision, for she gave no commands even as Ribbon stirred feebly on the ground.
Drapion dropped his tail. The clublike appendage slammed into Ribbon, driving him deeper into the ground. Drapion raised his tail and dropped it again, and again, each time driving Ribbon even deeper, widening the crater they both stood in.
Before he could raise his tail for a fourth hit, Jaya raised Ribbon's Wing Ball and mutely recalled him.
It took a few moments for Drapion's victory to sink in. As cheers began to reach his ears and Jaya stepped over to congratulate Marcus, Drapion grinned. Two down, one to go.
The fact that the one remaining opponent was Raymond did not leave Drapion's mind.
A wide grin split Gholdengo's face as he watched his Trainer battle. From the start, it had been clear that for once, Gholdengo's plan had worked perfectly.
Raymond battled like a completely different Trainer…no, it was the same Trainer that Gholdengo had always known, his nervousness and emotional baggage forgotten in his desire to gain victory and save Brambleghast. Ilima, by contrast, seemed distracted - though he clearly was trying to move past it, the recent disappearance of his Komala was weighing on him, and uncharacteristic mistakes dominated his battling.
After fifteen minutes of battling, there was no question about who was going to win. Part of Gholdengo was impressed that the off-his-game Ilima had managed to get Raymond down to his last Pokemon, but with the completely fresh Gengar up against Ilima's weary Kangaskhan, victory was practically assured.
"Earthquake!" Ilima called, his voice halfhearted. His Kangaskhan unleashed a powerful Ground Slam, the resulting shockwave sweeping across the arena towards Gengar.
"Cursed Body: Dissolution," Gengar retorted. The Ghost-type rose into the air, his shape dissolving into formless Distortion. His Cursed Body Ability effectively gave Gengar a body of Distortion that he could manipulate at will, similar to Gholdengo's Body Manipulation technique but with even greater control.
Of course, for that control Gengar had to sacrifice the sheer versatility Good as Gold offered, but for a Pokemon of his level the trade-off was acceptable.
"Toxic Wave." Gengar unleashed a retaliatory spreading blast of Poison energy, one that Kangaskhan had no way of dodging. Ilima hesitated to call out an order - when he finally called for Flamethrower, it was too late. The Sludge Wave overpowered the swift but tiny blast of Fire energy and swept over the screaming Kangaskhan.
When it cleared, Kangaskhan was down and out. Ilima accepted the loss, though his gaze was stormy as he shook Raymond's hand.
"I will admit, I am surprised," said Ceruledge from beside Gholdengo. "How did you do it?"
"Oh, you know." Gholdengo giggled. "Made a few threats, told a few lies, usual stuff." He laughed quietly as he watched Raymond congratulating Gengar on the win.
"Are you all right, Gholdengo?" Ceruledge asked.
"Never better!" said Gholdengo. "Do you see now, Ceruledge? It took some time, it took some effort, and sure, there were setbacks, but in the end my plan will bring Raymond victory."
"That depends on Jaya," said Ceruledge.
"Oh, believe me, she's been taken care of," said Gholdengo, punctuating the statement with another giggle. "How's Haunter-1? Is he stationed near the prisoners?"
"Yes," said Ceruledge.
"Excellent, excellent," said Gholdengo. "Oh, look, here comes Raymond. I'm sure he'll be pleased…only one more win to go and he gets the victory he deserves."
Raymond recalled both Ceruledge and Gholdengo then, cutting Gholdengo off before he could break into another bout of long, loud, insane laughter.
"So Raymond beat Ilima," said Marcus at dinner to Jaya.
"Of course he did." Jaya sighed. "Marcus, do you know what that means?"
"What?" Marcus asked.
"It's going to come down to you and Raymond," said Jaya. "Winner takes all."
"But if you beat Ilima tomorrow," said Marcus, "then even if Raymond beats me, you'll still have a five-point lead over him, and you'll win the tiebreaker and get the extra twenty points because you beat Raymond. So you'll-"
"I'm not going to beat Ilima tomorrow."
Marcus stared at Jaya as if she'd grown a second head. Jaya looked up at Marcus. "Don't take this the wrong way, Marcus…but before lunch, the saboteur approached me. Not in person…they sent a message…but they told me that if I won my next two battles, Jolt would die."
Marcus's eyes widened in surprise. Jaya nodded shakily. "I know they'll kill her if I talk," she said. "But the thing is…it's only if I win. Not if you win. So…"
"You threw our fight?" Marcus asked.
Jaya nodded again. Marcus leaned back in his chair, shocked into silence. It took a few moments before Jaya spoke again. "Did Kriesh ever tell you about what happened to her?" she asked.
"No," said Marcus. "I knew you'd raised her from childhood…and I know she told Medicham, Drapion, and Cloyster about her past. But I don't know about it myself. All I know is that it hurt her a lot, both physically and mentally. And that's one of the main reasons why I'm trying to become a Gym Leader. So that I can stop what happened to Kriesh from happening to others."
"That's a good goal," said Jaya. "To be honest, I don't know the full details of what happened to her either. And I think that's for the best. But…I do know she was kidnapped by Team Rocket. I was there when it happened. And I've tried my entire life to forget that day…but I can't. Jolt being taken…it brought those memories back. And to be honest, I don't really care about the Gym Exam anymore. All I want is to get her back safely."
Marcus stared at Jaya mutely, not knowing what to say.
Jaya looked up at him. "Look, Marcus…whether or not Raymond's guilty of this, you have to promise me you're going to win your match with him tomorrow. Okay?"
"Okay," said Marcus. "I promise."
Jaya smiled. "For what it's worth, Marcus…I think you're going to be a great Gym Leader."
Marcus returned Jaya's smile. "Thank you."
Cloyster couldn't sleep. He hadn't really been able to sleep ever since Brambleghast's disappearance. The thought of her kept in some dark, cold place, alone and terrified, prevented Cloyster from resting.
It just doesn't make sense, Cloyster thought to himself. Everybody's been combing Laverre for days, and we've found nothing. And yet the saboteur's still in Laverre, if Valerie's to be trusted.
Could it be - no. There's no way Valerie would do this as part of some kind of test. The sabotage, maybe, but not the kidnapping.
No, it's real. But if it is, then where in Laverre could the saboteurs be? We've searched everywhere!
A sudden realization struck Cloyster. Or have we?
We've checked every house, every shop, every basement and every attic, the Gym, every single building in the entire town…except one.
Nobody's searched our own apartments. Because who in their right mind would hide any kidnappees so close to us?
Cloyster shifted, staring out of his Luxury Ball. I need to search. I need to find them. This could be just another dead end…but if it isn't, then the longer I wait to search, the more Brambleghast suffers.
The more everyone suffers.
The words had scarcely came to Cloyster's mind when another realization followed it. Right…Marcus keeps his Luxury Balls sealed. Ever since the Swarm showed up. Damn it! There's no way I can get out before he releases us in the morning, and that's too late! Cloyster slammed his shell into the Luxury Ball release function in frustration.
The Luxury Ball hissed open, disgorging Cloyster onto the room's carpeted floor.
"What the…" Cloyster glanced around nervously. How did I get out? Did anybody hear? Both questions were answered quickly - nobody had heard, and from the looks of things, Marcus had only loosely placed the seals on tonight, a combination of laziness and nervousness that had allowed Cloyster to escape.
Escape's not the right word. I'll come back…I'll just search, and not engage. If I find them, I'll run, and I'll wake Marcus and the rest of the team.
But as Cloyster turned, he remembered the room's door. Closed and locked tight to prevent any saboteurs from getting in. Arceus damn it! Cloyster eyed the bed upon which Marcus slept on. So much for that…maybe I will just have to wait until the morning. But-
Something shifted at the door.
Panic froze Cloyster for a moment. The doorknob was turning; Cloyster heard a click as the door's lock released, and the door itself began to swing open. Cloyster dove behind the bed so fast he felt as if he'd left his shell behind.
A tall, gold-colored Pokemon - Raymond's Gholdengo - peeked through the now-open doorway. His eyes swiveled across the room. Cloyster pressed himself tightly against the bedframe, hoping that his body would stop trembling.
Gholdengo grunted disappointedly and stepped out of view, leaving the door slightly ajar. A set of fading metallic footsteps indicated he was retreating.
Cloyster frowned. What is Gholdengo doing? Could he be investigating? Or… Cloyster swallowed. There's only one way to find out. This is probably stupid, and definitely dangerous…but I have to figure out the truth before it's too late.
Quickly but quietly, Cloyster rolled towards the open door. He peered around the corner in time to see Gholdengo disappearing down the nearby flight of stairs. Quiet…I can't let him know I'm following. Because if my worst fear is true…then if Gholdengo sees me, it's over.
Slowly, Cloyster rolled after Gholdengo, taking great care to prevent his spikes from catching in the carpet, making as little noise as possible.
Behind Cloyster, a dark shape detached itself from the shadows and moved after him.
Next up: the two-part finale to the Gym Exam Arc.